Thomas "Tom" Spangler

Thomas “Tom” Spangler passed away on Wednesday January 6, 2021 at Generations at Peoria. He was born on August 27,1934 in Danville, IL to Homer “Red” Spangler and Leota (Massey) Spangler.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William “Bill” Spangler of Boonesmill, VA; sisters, Verna “Pete” (Bob) Williams of Sunnyland, IL and Martha “Marty” (Bill) Lewis of Danville.

Tom graduated from Danville High School in 1952. He was Junior Class Social Chairman and Senior Class President. He graduated from his beloved Bradley University, Peoria in 1956 and received a Master’s Degree from Illinois State University, Normal in 1964. He also had several hours beyond the Master’s program in School Administration. Tom taught and coached at Armington, IL. One of his baseball teams reached the State High School tournament. He was then Principal at Mackinaw Grade School in Mackinaw, IL and Principal at Georgetown Jr. High School in North Pekin, Marquetta Heights, IL. He returned to Armington as Superintendent. During this time, he was Secretary and President of both Tazewill County’s Principal’s Association and Tazewell County’s School Administrator’s Association.

Following a tour in the U.S. Army he went to work at Hyster Corp. in Danville as Director of Training and Education. After two years he was employed by Xerox Corp., starting in Danville, and was transferred to the Minneapolis, MN branch as Branch Administrative Manager. He then went into sales with Xerox for twenty-two years. During these years he was President of four Chamber of Commerce; Little Crow Country Club in Spicer, MN and served as a long-term board member of the Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer. Other activities were Boy Scouts, school board, and other civic organizations.

Tom relocated to Illinois and finished his working career at Child-Adult Resource Services in Rockville, IN. He served as Sales Manager at Triumph Industries, a division of C.A.R.S., was President of the Parke County Chamber of Commerce and named to a state advisory board by Indiana’s former Governor Beye. He loved working with people with disabilities. He did not enjoy retirement and soon started his own small business, Spangler Cleaning Service. His beloved wife Sue was stricken with Alzheimer Disease, so he closed his business to care for her until her death in 2010. He reopened his business after an extended mourning period.

In lieu of flowers he would like any donations to be made to either the Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Bradley University, Peoria, or Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He loved his children, Kristy Spangler (Vince) Schmitz and Ted Spangler; and his nieces and nephews, especially his niece Janice (Bill) Nelson. She and Bill helped him get through his life with as few difficulties as possible. A special Thank You to the ministers and members of Georgetown Methodist Churches.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Sunset Memorial Park at 3901 N Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61834. Officiating will be Pastor Matt Filisky. Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834 has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please join Tom’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com. 

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